It was there that he was snared by paedophile hunters Guardians of the North, who were behind the fake online profile.

Now, Douglas, of Thirlmere Avenue, Cullercoats, North Tyneside, has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to attempting to engage a child in sexual activity and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

Newcastle Crown Court was told Douglas started sending messages to the girl on Badoo in May last year and, by June, had carried on the conversations on Facebook.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister said the exchanges were initially just friendly but they soon progressed to a sexual nature, with him sending her pictures of his genitals and videos of him performing a sex act.

Douglas also asked the girl to send naked images of herself before he started suggesting they meet up.

Mr Pallister said that the pervert cancelled their first meeting because he was “too shy” but turned up to the second at around 3pm on June 25 on the North side of the Shields Ferry.

“Clearly, there is graphic exchange details where the defendant has made it clear, in no uncertain terms, he wanted to have sex with her, but he said it would be up to her,” said Mr Pallister.

“Messages between them show his intention was to have sex and that he knew she was 15.

“Members of Guardians of the North attended and saw the defendant and challenged him and said, ‘Louis Douglas, you have been grooming a 15-year-old girl online’.

“They said the defendant became aggressive and was swinging around his crash helmet and one of the members took him in a bear hug and took him to the ground.”